President’s Report

Dear Friends,

There are many exciting happenings to share, but first I wanted to say thanks to the many of you in attendance at last week’s Interfaith Forum. If you missed it and would like to hear from six faith perspectives on end of life care, we are happy to provide the following link to a video of the panel. You can also hear from some of our panelists in an insightful Chicago Public Radio segment

Onward to Harold Washington Library! Tuesday, March 31st, Mary and I will appear on stage at the Pritzker Auditorium with our friend Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune columnist and WGN Radio host in our presentation, “Starting the Conversation.”

At the library, we will begin a dialogue about the reasons that end of life decisions are so imperative to discuss, address common barriers that many of us face, and identify our own values and goals essential to understanding and communicating care preferences.

Rick, a friend to the Chicago Public Library and to Life Matters Media, will take the stage and have his own “conversation” that evening. It is our hope that in watching this process unfold, all attendees will better understand what’s important when addressing these issues with loved ones and medical providers. No registration is required, but if you’re coming- let us know! Send us a tweet: @LifeMMedia or an email, randi@lifemattersmedia.org Here is more information:

This week online, we introduced a new expert column from our friends at Respecting Choices in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Ethicist Thomas Harter will be discussing advance care planning through the lens of this successful and now globally recognized program; a values-based paradigm designed to align actual care with individual treatment goals.

Friday, I was fortunate to attend the Institute of Medicine’s National Action Conference on End of Life Care. Health and policy experts from across the country convened at the National Academy of Sciences to discuss implementation strategies of the IOM’s seminal fall report and recommendations, Dying in America. Here’s my write up in Reuters Health: http://bit.ly/1DQZyKF

Thanks, as always, for your support. We hope to see you in the coming week!